580 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 



THE REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS 



The number of species of snakes (10) is not large, but the 

 number of turtles is unusually large. Although the total number 

 of reptiles is only 19, nine of these are turtles, several of the species 

 of which are found in large numbers. 



While the snakes are of little importance in the biology of the 

 lake, the same is not true of the turtles. All of the nine species 

 but one inhabit the lake and constitute an important factor in 

 their relations to the fishes and other animals dwelling in it. Their 

 function is largely that of scavengers and the amount of dead ani- 

 mal and vegetable matter which they consume is considerable. 

 Dwelling as they do chiefly in the shallow parts of the lake near 

 the shores, they readily find and quickly devour most of the dead 

 fishes and crustaceans that drift in near the shore. The number 

 of amphibians is large, there being 18 species. 



In nomenclature, but not in sequence, we have followed Stejneger 

 and Barbour's Check List of North American Amphibians and 

 Reptiles, 1917. As our list was in type before the "Check List" 

 was available, it was not practicable to change the sequence. 



THE SNAKES 

 INTRODUCTION 



The total number of species of snakes known from the vicinity 

 of Lake Maxinkuckee is 10. This number is not large; doubtless 

 more thorough field work would increase the number slightly. 

 While the species are not numerous, several of them are fairly 

 abundant in individuals. This is particularly true of the common 

 Garter Snake and the Water Snake. The former of these may be 

 seen in suitable situations on almost any warm day from early 

 spring until late in the fall, while the latter is almost equally fre- 

 quent from the middle of summer to early fall about the borders 

 of Lost Lake and along the Outlet. 



Nearly all, perhaps all, of the species bear some relation to the 

 life of the lake, some of them feeding on fishes when opportunity 

 offers, and all feeding upon frogs. Only one of the species of 

 snakes known from the Lake Maxinkuckee region is poisonous; 

 that is the little Prairie Rattlesnake which, fortunately, is quite 

 rare. 



